Herschel Walker weighs in on UGA’s off-field problems
Herschel Walker expressed concern about the number of Georgia football players arrested this year, saying coach Mark Richt has “got to take control” of the issue and the players “have to take responsibility.”
The former Georgia football great, who led the Bulldogs to the national championship as a freshman 30 years ago, was asked about the issue during an appearance Wednesday on ESPN’s “College Football Live” program.
“That’d concern me a great deal,” Walker said. “The losses, that is going to concern me as well, but when you got kids that got off-field problems, we need to get into and see what’s going on. Because when you got off-the-field problems, there’s something going on with that program.
“And I think Coach Richt has got to get a hand on it. I love Coach Richt. He’s a great coach, and there’s no doubt: I do not think Coach Richt should be fired. We got to find out what is going on within that program when you got 11 guys since March that have been off-the-field problems.”
Of the 11 players arrested this year, four were kicked off the team by Richt, one left the program after getting a six-game suspension, one got a two-game suspension and three received one-game suspensions.
“He’s got to fix it,” Walker said of Richt. “He’s the leader there on that team, so he’s got to take control.
“Athletes got to have responsibility,” Walker added. “That’s one of the problems I think athletes have today. They don’t want to take responsibilities, but they have to take responsibility. You’re in college; you’re not out in high school anymore; you’re in college. . . . If you got a problem, you got to be penalized. Now, Coach Richt does that, but I think you got to be a little bit more harsher.”
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410 comments Add your comment
blah blah
October 21st, 2010
11:29 am
Which Herschel multiple personality was this talking? The Herschel who is a Christian and loves UGA or the Herschel currently doing nude photos in ESPN magazine, divorced his wife, and held a gun to his own head?
59bulldawg
October 21st, 2010
11:30 am
Well Dwayne, can’t say that I’ve “been there, done that” but our impressions of those years are different. Guess we’d have to greatly increase the sample size and expand the geographic location to know for sure. Still doesn’t change anything about expectations now. I really don’t think we’re setting the bar too high by asking that athletes not to get into trouble with the law.
MURPHY
October 21st, 2010
11:32 am
Thats an eye opener-Herschel calling out Richt and the issue of the program.
mike
October 21st, 2010
11:34 am
I had the chance to meet and visit with Herschel for a few minutes a couple of years ago and he was without a doubt the nicest professional or ex-professional athlete that I’ve ever met and I’ve met a bunch of them. He was signing autographs and engaging the autograph seekers in conversation rather than the other way around. I think his parents taught him the importance of making a good first impression on people and it definately works for him. Not quite sure what I think about him posing nude for a magazine, but I still think he’s a class act and a very nice person.
Blowing Rock NC Bulldog
October 21st, 2010
11:34 am
Amen, Papadawg
David Granger
October 21st, 2010
11:34 am
Herschel’s right, but I’m not sure Richt can get control of the team now.
For one thing, athletic dorms were eliminated in 1996, and…for all the negatives they had…it was sure easier for a coach to monitor where players were and what they were doing. But also, I think Coach Richt has that Bobby Bowden “FSU mentality” about a lot of things. Bowden would always excuse a lot of behavior…both on and off the field…by just saying “them boys are just having a little fun, and sometimes go a little too far.”
And that’s the case here with Georgia. In recent years, we have seen:
1. Georgia become one of the most penalized teams in the conference, and a lot of the penalties are foolish ones, coming at critical times.
2. Georgia players dancing and shimmying on the sidelines in the late fourth quarter of a game we were losing.
3. Georgia players make foolish mistakes, and then shouting back at their position coaches when confronted on the sidelines.
4. Georgia players arrested in all kinds of off-the-field incidents.
5. Georgia players running off the field to the locker room at halftime…only to have to stop and return because there is still time left on the clock.
6. Georgia players stomping on the opponent’s logo at midfield after needing a last-second field goal to beat…of all teams…Vanderbilt.
7. Coach Richt dragging his team off midfield in the above-mentioned game, only to turn around later and instruct them to deliberately break the excessive celebration rule.
Most winning teams have a DEEP respect for their coach…almost bordering on fear. (Not fear of physical abuse, of course…but fear of embarrassing themselves, their school, and of losing their coach’s respect.) I don’t think Coach Richt has that at Georgia, and I don’t think that…once a coach loses that…he can ever get it back.
Papadawg
October 21st, 2010
11:35 am
I remember Herschel standing in front of cameras and lying his butt off claiming he was notleaving UGA for the pros so why we taking his word on anything
59bulldawg
October 21st, 2010
11:36 am
Papadawg, I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree about a coach’s responsibilities. I do think Richt would find an easier time of it, though, if he would stop trying to run the program as a half-way house for troubled teens.
david
October 21st, 2010
11:36 am
I am surprised Ga people gives a damn what Herschel says. Ga kisses Buck’s and Vince Dooley’s butt, however Herschel get’s no respect. By the way, Buck handed the ball off to Herschell. Herschel won that 1980 NC. Pathetic fans.
Ed
October 21st, 2010
11:37 am
I think Richt is just weak in this regard. He could send a strong statement by withdrawing the scholarship offer to 5-star recruit Christian LeMay (made easier by RFros. Aaron Murray’s strong play at the same position), but I seriously doubt he will do that. A big part of the problem is recruiting. Until Richt stops trying to emulate the Florida schools and their love of the bad boys and starts recruiting based in large part on character, we’ll continue to have the same problems on and off the field.
check Up
October 21st, 2010
11:37 am
We’re in a downward spiral with no end in sight!!!!!!!!!!!!
Herschel also said
October 21st, 2010
11:38 am
I wanna be a fireman…..I wanna be a FBI agent
dawgfan
October 21st, 2010
11:39 am
We’re getting off topic but that’s not true bulldawg59. They didn’t have the kind of tests back then that they have now. Nobody would have been busted for DUI for drinking 3 beers back then like is so often the case now. No, I wasn’t around, but I’ve heard about it. Unless you were driving like a complete maniac it was pretty hard to get a DUI back then.
I’m not making any excuses for our players. I just take issue with this prevalent notion, which in my opinion is demostrated by Herschel’s comments, that things were so good and wholesome back in the good ole days. No they weren’t. Herschel knows damn good and well the kind of tomfoolery that his teammates were up to back then. They just weren’t getting caught. My father was a child of the 60’s and he saw after school fights where people brought two by fours and baseball bats. I grew up in the same area and never witnessed a single fight in high school in the 90’s.
The old fogies like Herschel just need to get off their damn high horse. That’s all.
Thanks.
BUZZ
October 21st, 2010
11:40 am
one ACC style football team (Clemson) came within a penalized Field Goal of tying your best SEC team (Auburn) lets see how your crime dawgs do against them ,,,go Herschel !!!!
Dawgface Soldier
October 21st, 2010
11:40 am
Herschel should be the UGA cheerleaders coach. He left early.
blah blah
October 21st, 2010
11:40 am
Maybe if the coaches would give the players a new Trans Am and spending money they would not get in trouble?
Papadawg
October 21st, 2010
11:42 am
Buzz go back and look at the replay of the GT- Kansas game
James
October 21st, 2010
11:42 am
@ Roc CCS channel 45 only on Comcast..
James
October 21st, 2010
11:43 am
Sorry Roc that’s CSS..
AltamahaDawg
October 21st, 2010
11:43 am
Not sure why anyone is getting on HW for what he said. Or how anyone thinks he was “calling out” Richt either. It’s was neither uncalled for or particularly damning. Just simply stating, and non to specifically I might add, what anyone could deduce from reading a couple of newspaper articles. “needs to get a handle on the arrests, looks like the penalties are becoming increasingly harsh, and hopefully at some point that will intersect with young men taking responsibility for thier own actions”. Ok, who hasn’t said that, including Richt himself?
And we need to try to recruit any good player in the State of Georgia. OK. Pretty sure that’s been said by every person in the Georgia family, every year for the past 4 decades. Again, who doesn’t say that including Richt himself.
BTW, as usuall the ABH does a much better job of reporting the entire context of this conversation without the slick editing for maximum headline shock and blog hits.
UGA Honor Grad
October 21st, 2010
11:43 am
Herschel through coach undar the bus.
Herschel Walker to Richt: ‘Get control’ | SportsTalk South
October 21st, 2010
11:49 am
[...] as close to royalty as it gets in Dawg Land. So when he says it’s time for Georgia coach Mark Richt to get control of his team, Bulldog fans everywhere sit up straight and listen. Something says that Richt does, too. [...]
The Runt of the Litter
October 21st, 2010
11:49 am
If Terrell Davis made those comments, I would care. Davis was way better than Hush-you.
michael phipps
October 21st, 2010
11:50 am
coach, can you take us swimming today? please show me your back dive.
Bucky Belue hand it to Herschel
October 21st, 2010
11:52 am
When da man I handed it to talks, ya better listen up! Bill Bates didnt pay attention & look what happened to him! LOL The state of Tennessee is still looking for the license plate # of da truck that ram him the F over!!! Go Dawgs Woof Woof!!!!!!!!!
coach vince
October 21st, 2010
11:53 am
well we never had any problems when i was coaching. EVERYONE including uga police just looked the other way after i shook hands and left them cash of course. since jane and i broke up the program has never been the same.
joe
October 21st, 2010
11:54 am
Who cares what walker has to say. He was significant 30 years ago and not today. What he is saying is obvious–quite obvious. I am sure Richt also knows it and is trying to address it.
After all, Walker, you abandoned uGA by luming for the bucks. Go away. We personally don’t care what you think–especially, about a subject that is of obvious concer to everyone.
Personally. I don’t care what your think.
tide roll
October 21st, 2010
11:54 am
Uga fans: There are at least 10, count ‘ em 10, offensive line starters for other teams in the conference from the State of Georgia that Searels could have had and yet passed on. One in particular, Roke Watkins, South Carolin’s right guard , from Fairburn, pushed you all over the field. Searels and Richt have effectively ruined the carrers of Kiante Tripp and Bean anderson by moving them from the offensive line to make room for their favorites. and the emergence of Kenarious Gates is no suprise. They knew he was a player in high school but were reluctant to sign him for the same old tired Uga reasons. Until this crap stops you’ll aways be second rate and that’s the way it should be.
hersy the great
October 21st, 2010
11:54 am
i guess i should explain how i was raised in a cabin in wrightsville and got a secured loan for a new trans am.
Here comes BAMA
October 21st, 2010
11:55 am
The problem (in my opinion) is not Herschel’s grammar or his ability to make a complete sentence. The problem is with the coaching. Put the right players on the field that has the work ethics to get the job done on and off the field. UGA move away from the “good ol’ boy mentallity” and then maybe, just maybe, you will see better results
Really?
October 21st, 2010
11:55 am
What was the Dawg Nation expecting when they brought in a coach with ties to FSU and Miami?
59bulldawg
October 21st, 2010
11:56 am
Dawgfan, are you addressing my comments? There is . . . I think, a bulldawg59 but I’m 59bulldawg. If not pardon the reply. I’m not speaking to technology. Of course the tests are better today than in the 70s. But they still had minimums and you could still be jailed for a DUI. Still I maintain that a comparison/contrast of what the law strictly enforces now as opposed to 30 years ago is not the problem. While detection is probably better now than then so is the process of educating the public on this problem. And then on top of it all they continue to get in trouble despite knowing how much criticism it brings to the program. To me that’s the ultimate sign of disrespect to Coach Richt. For those who think the police are targeting football players, consider this. Did they just, all of a sudden one day say “Hey let’s make life for the football program rough by arresting as many players as we can?” I just don’t see it.
Buck Buchanan
October 21st, 2010
11:57 am
CMR…get Herschel on the next airplane to Athens and put him in charge of discipline. I beleieve they will look-up to him and respect what he has to tell them.
Win P.
October 21st, 2010
11:58 am
Me think Herschel is on to something. Richt strikes me as trying to be popular with these students/athletes and I wonder why. He has got the roles reversed. These kids/thugs/imature adults should be worried about pleasing the “coach”.
bo jackson
October 21st, 2010
11:58 am
i am so damn tired of hearing what that punk kid did 30 years ago. i guess i’ve got to go out now and pose nude just to remind everyone of ME.
Here comes BAMA
October 21st, 2010
11:59 am
ps….we know Damon Evans wasn’t the reason the program was in trouble. I think they were doing ok with him as AD
DawgGONEit
October 21st, 2010
12:00 pm
Bulldog nation,
Dont listen to the words of a grown man that showed his behind to millions.
Ace
October 21st, 2010
12:00 pm
A flake among flakes, Walkers all of them.
Gen Neyland
October 21st, 2010
12:01 pm
As an outsider, I’d say put HW in charge of the Discipline Office at UGA. Imagine the kid coming out of lockup to see ol’ Herschel waiting…
Harold
October 21st, 2010
12:02 pm
Unfortunately nothing is going to change until UGA changes its mediocre coaching. That’s where the difference is, and that’s why everyone outside Dawgtard Nation just laughs at Dawg fans getting so excited year after year about what a great recruiting class UGA gets. It doesn’t matter how many blue chip high school players go to UGA, they simply don’t get the coaching they would get at Florida or Alabama, to name two schools whose programs are far ahead of UGA. And that’s not going to change as long as Mark Richt is in Athens.
DawgGONEit
October 21st, 2010
12:03 pm
Hushyou need to be barred from UGA campus like Reggie Bush.
CDAWG
October 21st, 2010
12:03 pm
Tide Roll I think that you are really an insider at UGA, aren’t you, aren’t you, aren’t you????
my frat
October 21st, 2010
12:04 pm
i exposed myself last night but espn wasn’t there to see IT.
Efrem Zimbalist
October 21st, 2010
12:05 pm
I thought Herschel just wanted to be an FBI agent.
Neutered Dawg
October 21st, 2010
12:06 pm
Fire Richt and make Herschel the Lead Dawg since he know it all.
society
October 21st, 2010
12:07 pm
DO AS I SAY NOT AS I DO!
Red Neck
October 21st, 2010
12:07 pm
Can all of those Herschels ride in one car or do they travel in a bus?
Here comes BAMA
October 21st, 2010
12:08 pm
@neutered dawg….do you think he can make it thru the interview
Denis
October 21st, 2010
12:09 pm
I wonder if any of the books about UGA football include the perspective of someone speaking for the late Jan Kemp? The perspective that “student” athletes like Lindsay Scott were playing years without taking college level courses? That the proudest moment of the football program was earned by players who never earned a single college credit?
Dawgtards love to return to 1980, but their memories are really short when it comes to remembering an earthshaking event that happened a few years later that showed the world what a joke UGA athletes were and what a scam artist their beloved Vince Dooley was (and is). So for all those dawgtards with short memories or who think their athletes are actually taking real courses and trying to graduate, here’s the quote that broke the trial wide open and showed what a slimeball Dooley is:
O. Hale Almand Jr., a lawyer for the defense, offered a justification for the favorable treatment accorded the athletes, citing a hypothetical player. “We may not make a university student out of him,” he told the jury, “but if we can teach him to read and write, maybe he can work at the post office rather than as a garbageman when he gets through with his athletic career.”
Nothing has changed at UGA, they just do a slightly better job of keeping things quiet, but that’s hard to do when 44 of your player-thugs have been arrested, isn’t it?
UGA: WINNER OF THE FULMER/RICHT CUP AND THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
Neutered Dawg
October 21st, 2010
12:09 pm
Herchell needs be neutered for throwing Coach and the program under the bus.